Swimming device



May 21, 1957 H. BOYERS SWIMMING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1954 v INVEN TOR.

HENRY BoYERs United States This invention relates to swimming accessories and has for its principal object to provide a device which is adapted to be mounted on a swimmers foot' and which includes novel means in the form of a blade to materially assist the swimmer in propelling himself through the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting sock for the ankle of a swimmer with a hinged blade which functions to increase the propelling area of the foot during the rearward movement of the foot and leg and which is foldable during the forward movement thereof to decrease the area and eliminate resistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swimming accessory of the character described which may be adjusted to fit various sizes of ankles.

It is further proposed to produce a device of this kind which is simple in construction and durable, which is effective for its intended purposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view of a swimmer at the end of a power stroke with a swimming accessory embodying the present invention applied to each foot.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of ning of the power stroke.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view accessory in position on a foot.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the blade.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the bracket.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of blade.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particulary to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, an anklet or sock 10 of elastic material is shown in position on each foot 11 of a swimmer. This sock is shaped to fit over the foot and ankle of the swimmer and is formed with an elongated tubular portion 12 which snugly engages and protects the ankle and with a loop portion 13 adapted to snugly fit over the instep of the foot, leaving an opening 14 in the seek for accommodating the fore-part of the foot and an opening 15 for accommodating the heel of the foot.

A metal plate 16 square in shape is secured to the outer surface of the tubular portion 12 of the sock adjacent its outer end by stitches 17 extending through openings 18 in the corners of the plate and through the elastic material of the sock. A metal strip 19 is secured across the plate 16 at approximately its center by welding, soldering or otherwise, and formed along one edge thereof and protruding therefrom are spaced hinge knuckles 20. The metal plate 16 with its strip 19 serves as a bracket for hingedly supporting an elongated blade member 21.

the swimmer at the beginof the swimming atent G ICE The blade member 21 is substantially rectangular in shape with a slightly curved and outwardly flaring end, as indicated at 22. On its opposite end, the blade is formed with a pair of spaced integral hinge knuckles 23 which protrude outwardly of the end of the plate into the spaces between the knuckles 20 on the" bracket 16 where they are interlocked by a hinge pin 24, permitting the blade to hang loosely and freely from the bracket. The blade is arranged to extend along the outside of the ankle of the svw'mmer with its free swinging flaring end normally directed toward the foot butterminating short of the sole of the foot, with the end curving outwardly from the ankle to normally provide a; space 25 between said curved end and the ankle. Swinging movement of the blade to operative position at right angles to the bracket 16, as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 4, is limited by a plate 26 welded or otherwise secured to the blade 21. Plate 26 is formed with outwardly extending flanges 27 along its marginal edges which protrude beyond the hinged end of the blade and which are formed with straight fiat outer ends 28 and slanting inner ends 29. When the blade is swung outwardly, the flat outer ends 28 are adapted to abut against the strip 19 and serve as stops to limit the outward movement of the blade beyond the right angular position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 4.

An elongated weighted plate 30 may be secured to the surface of the blade 21 adjacent the sock, by Welding, soldering, or in any other suitable manner, in order to assist in returning the blade to its normal position alongside the sock.

In use, the sock is pulled over the foot and ankle to secure the accessory to the foot of the swimmer. As the swimmer in the power stroke kicks out with his legs, as shown in Fig. 2, the movement of the legs and the rush of water into the spaces 25 striking the curved ends 22 of the blades, automatically cause the blades to swing laterally to open position thereby appreciably increasing the area for acting upon the water, or the resistance, during the rearward movement of the legs and feet,,whereby the swimmer is assisted in propelling himself through the water. As the swimmer draws his legs forwardly for the next power stroke, as shown in Fig. 1, the rush of water against the inner surface of the curved ends of the blades together with the weights 30 causes the blades to swing to their normal position alongside the ankles, as shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, for reducing resistance to the water to a minimum.

The blade is so arranged that its free swinging end is above the sole of the foot thereby permitting walking by the swimmer, and is arranged so that it does not in any way interfere with the swimmer when making a dive or when floating.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the limiting plate 26 is slidably mounted on the blade 21' in order to adjustably control the outward swing of the blade to accommodate the device to ankles of various sizes. This is accomplished by forming the plate 26 separate from the blade 21' and providing an elongated slot 31 in the plate extending longitudinally thereof. A threaded bolt 32 carried by the blade extends through the slot 31 and a wing nut 33 on the extended threaded end of the bolt clamps the plate on the blade. This structure permits the plate to be moved along the blade so that the distance between the outer flat ends 23' of the flanges 27 of the plate and the strip 19 of the bracket 16, when the parts are in normal position, may be regulated in order to adjust the distance the blade swings to operative position.

In all other respects the Figs. 7 and 8 is similar to form of invention shown in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

It is to be understood that the. blade member and the hinge may be made of plastic, metal Or other suitable substances with any desired type of hinge construction. t While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A swimming accessory comprising an elastic sock, a bracket secured to the sock, spaced hinge knuckles on the bracket, an elongated blade having a curved flaring end, spaced hinge knuckles on the opposite end of the blade disposed in the spaces between the knuckles on the bracket, a hinge pin holding said knuckles in interlocking po- 20 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Classen Sept. 10, 1901 Moransky Jan. 3, 1928 Speziale May 29, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS v Sweden Sept. 20, 1916 

